Washington State Park hosts 19th Red River heritage event

WASHINGTON, Arkansas (KTAL/KMSS) — The 19th Annual Red River Heritage Symposium is at Historic Washington State Park on July 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The theme is “Trail of Tears in the Red River Region”. It focuses on the removal period of the Choctaw tribe as they traveled from Mississippi into southeastern Oklahoma and the impact that had on the Great Bend Region of the Red River.

Historic Washington State Park is a restoration village whose design aims to recreate the Arkansas town as it was in the 19th century. Daily tours are provided to sites and museums such as the B.W. Edwards Weapons Museum and Blacksmith Shop.

The topic covered will include “Washington, Arkansas, and the Trail of Tears” by Josh Williams and Chris Adams of Historic Washington State Park. “Choctaw and Chickasaw Removal Stories through Southwest Arkansas” by Dr. Dan Littlefield of the Sequoyah National Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “Indigenous Experimental Archeology at Choctaw Nation” by Dr. Ian Thompson of the Choctaw Nation Archeological Survey. “Remembering Choctaw Removal Today” by a representative of the Choctaw Nation Cultural Center.

The symposium will also include all-day workshops on Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, for teachers and researchers. Lunch is included on both days, and teachers can earn a total of 12 credit hours by attending both.

Saturday morning of the workshop includes a bus tour to sites in southwest Arkansas related to the Choctaw removal route sponsored by the Arkansas State Archives.

Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. at the 1874 Hempstead County Courthouse Visitor Center. Registration must be made by July 18. The cost of attendance is $25 for the Friday teacher workshop, $15 for the Saturday bus tour, $20 for the Saturday symposium, or $50 for all events.